Record 53 Eateries Join Grilled Cheese Experience for Food for Lane County

A monthlong fundraiser brought a record number of local restaurants together to help neighbors facing food insecurity. The 12th Annual Grilled Cheese Experience runs throughout February with 53 eateries across Eugene, Springfield, Coburg, Cottage Grove, Veneta, Lorane, and Junction City donating $2 from every grilled cheese sold to Food for Lane County. That donation amount is roughly equivalent to four meals, based on the agency's meal-conversion estimate.

Food for Lane County hopes the event will generate $30,000 in sandwich sales to expand its pantry and meal programs. Dawn Marie Woodward, who has been identified as both media coordinator and events coordinator for Food for Lane County, framed the event as an effort to ease everyday hardship: “For a lot of people, it's really hard to even put basics on the table. So bread, cheese, and other things like that. And so we thought, 'you know February is a fun time to do this. It's rainy. It's dark. It's something that could lift people's spirit and raise money for the food banks.'” Woodward also emphasized the conversion of dollars into meals: “A lot of people are not able to make sure they have proper food on the table. Food for Lane County tries to help everybody that needs food. The money that is raised for this event helps go towards that. Every dollar helps us provide two meals out in the community.”

Organizers launched the month with a kickoff at GrassRoots Garden on Coburg Road that showcased local vendors such as Smok'N Gingers BBQ and the Corn Dog Company and drew a crowd described as connoisseurs of all things cheesy. Attendees picked up Grilled Cheese Experience passports at the kickoff; participants can also grab passports at any participating restaurant or download one online, collect stamps for each sandwich purchase, and redeem stamps for prizes.

Local businesses are leaning in. Busy Bee Cafe in Springfield is participating for the third year; owner Meg Holiday described the cafe's featured sandwich: “So we have two pieces of round sourdough with garlic butter, and we have pepper jack on one side and cheddar on the other, and we put a fried egg in the middle, melt it all together, and then you get a side of potatoes with it also.” Other named participants include Falling Sky Brew Pub in Eugene and Black Market BBQ in Springfield, alongside dozens of small cafes and pubs across the county.

Beyond the comfort-food appeal, the event highlights persistent needs in Lane County. The combined donation formula - $2 per sandwich equating to about four meals - makes the impact easy to track for participants and donors. For local restaurants, the fundraiser also offers an opportunity to draw customers during a slow season while supporting community food access.

Through February, residents can support Food for Lane County by buying participating grilled cheeses, picking up passports at restaurants, and collecting stamps toward prizes. Organizers will track sales against the $30,000 goal and report back after the month; for now, the surge in participation signals strong neighborhood support for meals and pantry services across Lane County.